Are these truly perilous times for democracy - times of uncertainty and instability? What role does the Supreme Court play in this transitional moment in American politics?

Bob Kerrey, president of The New School, and journalist Linda Greenhouse, Supreme Court reporter for the New York Times, assess the decisions of the Roberts Court as the United States heads into a presidential election in a moment of domestic and international unrest.

Cosponsored by the Wolfson Center for National Affairs and the Institute for Retired Professionals, the event will discuss whether civil liberties are being eroded or transformed by a changing balance between individual liberty and state security and what personnel changes on the Court might we expect in the next administration- The New School

Linda Greenhouse

Linda Greenhouse is a Pulitzer Prize winning reporter who covered the United States Supreme Court for nearly three decades for the The New York Times.

She will join Yale Law School in January 2009 as the Knight Distinguished Journalist-in-Residence and Joseph M. Goldstein Senior Fellow.

Bob Kerrey

January 1, 2011, Bob Kerrey completed his tenure as seventh President of The New School, a university founded on strong democratic ideals and daring educational practices, an environment that was well suited for his leadership. He also served as New School's President Emeritus from January 1, 2011 to January 31, 2013.

Prior to coming to The New School Bob Kerrey represented Nebraska in the United States Senate. For two terms, Senator Kerrey emphasized the direct connection between citizens and their laws, and made a concerted effort to allow Nebraskans to participate in writing laws that defined the quality and inclusiveness of their health care system, their schools and the safety of their communities. He served on the Senate's Agriculture and Forestry Committee, Senate's Appropriations Committee, Senate's Finance Committee, and last but not least on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence where he worked to restructure our intelligence agencies to improve their capacity to meet the threats faced by our country. Prior to serving in the U.S. Senate Bob Kerrey served a single term as Nebraska's Governor. He established a reputation as a fiscal conservative who regularly crossed political party lines for the good of Nebraska and the Country.

Bob Kerrey served three years in the United States Navy. While in Vietnam, he was wounded, permanently disabled from the injury, and from this injury received a great gift: Sympathy for those who are suffering and an appreciation for the capacity of government to save your life. Before his time in the Navy Bob Kerrey attended the University of Nebraska graduating in January 1966 with a BS degree in pharmacy. He was born in Lincoln and attended public schools there. In 2002 he published a memoir "When I Was A Young Man."

Bob Kerrey is married to Sarah Paley and lives in New York. The couple has a 12-year-old son, Henry, and Mr. Kerrey has two children from his previous marriage, Ben and Lindsey Kerrey, and four grandchildren.